A progressive residential subdivision near Cloverdale has been granted $862,000 by senior governments for an innovative stormwater drainage system. The East Clayton “sustainable development” project will use a system of natural drainage — through soil enhancement, detention ponds and similar works — to replace conventional storm sewers, thus reducing damage to urban streams. “The storm water technology used in this project, subject to successful performance, could have application throughout the province,” said Kevin Falcon, B.C. Liberal MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale. The B.C. and federal governments will each contribute $431,000 to the drainage project under the Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Program. The program is allocating $536 million in senior government funding around the province for local works. Surrey taxpayers will pay for the remainder of the local drainage project’s $1.29-million total budget. The East Clayton development, in a largely rural area north of Cloverdale, is also planned as a pedestrian-oriented neighbourhood that could house as many as 14,000 people.